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Helpless in Target

March 29th, 2010

Target is one of my very favorite stores here in East Texas. It is one of the best stores to buy clothes and to register for wedding and baby showers. But as I walked through the store to the electronic department I was in a hurry.

I am pretty clueless when it comes to understanding electronics. And I was in need to buy my husband a HD cable. I had no idea what that was. I knew that it was a cable that you stuck into your television. I walked over to the “help” desk and waited for a employee to come to the desk. Two employees walked by the desk and when they saw me, they tried to not make eye contact. Usually I would of just searched the store until I actually found someone that was willing to do their job, but for the sake of this articles, I waited for someone to actually try to help me. Finally a young boy came up to the desk and I asked him to help me. He looked around for someone else to do his job. His lack of excitement to be at work was completely off putting, and to be blunt, annoying.

I asked him where I can find HD cables. He pointed in a general direction and told me they were “over there”. So, at this point I was extremely frustrated with the young kid. I told him that I really had no idea what I was looking for or what kind of cable I should use. He looked at me like I was retarded and told me he was going to get someone to help me. It would take more time to find someone to come over and show me, than to just show me himself. He grabbed his walkie-talkie and asked for some woman to come over to electronics. I asked him if he worked in this department. Apparently you can work in the electronics department but with manly video games and televisions. He grabbed the phone and called an outgoing line right in front of me. I was beyond annoyed by the rudeness of the employee. A woman came up to me and ask what I needed help. I told her that I just needed to be shown where the HD cables were at and which one I should use. She walked me over to the next aisle. About twenty feet. Really? He could not walk me over twenty feet? I grabbed the cable that I needed and left the store disappointed and frustrated. If you don’t know what you are looking for when it comes to the electronic selection, do not go to Target.

Chez Bazan

March 1st, 2010

Chez Bazan Bakery and Coffee Shop

Chez Bazan

Chez Bazan

5930 Old Bullard
Tyler
75703
903 561 9644

Chez Bazan is just what it’s name suggests – a fancy bakery and coffee shop with a French flavor. It is quite upmarket and the prices, whilst not outrageous, reflect that.

The atmosphere is very nice –Chez Bazan is spacious and well lit with flagstone floors and brick walls. The wooden tables and chairs are arranged neatly with plenty of space between them. Music plays quietly in the background.

On the left is the bakery section. I have never seen such a variety of cakes, pies, cookies and pastries as they have here! The cakes look delicious, if not sinful – they are 4 layer cakes and with flavours such as Boston cream, carrot, German Chocolate and cheesecake there is something for everyone. You can order a slice for around $3.50 or a whole cake/gateaux for between $20-40. They will even supply a ‘party kit’ with forks and napkins (for a fee) in case you wish to take a cake to the office for someone’s special occasion.

The pastries, croissants and pigs in blankets are pretty good and the pastries are fairly authentic (I am European) but quite expensive. I thought $2.15 was a lot to shell out for one pain au chocolate. Chez Bazan also has specialty breads which are around $4 a loaf and genuine baguettes at $2.95 – which are nothing like the so-called French bread sold in supermarkets here. The cookie selection will blow you away. 20 different types are available here and you can buy them singly or by the half dozen. Most are just under a dollar each but are French, rather than American super-sized.

Chez Bazan can provide catering packs to suit your needs. They are quite used to making breakfast trays, box lunches and party trays of sweets and have a menu for each of these services. They are also accustomed to hosting parties and baby showers on the premises. There is a lovely party room which seats around 30 and this can be hired for $25 plus a food order of $125. It can be decorated to suit your needs. They will obviously make your cake too if you want. Wedding cakes can also be made by the staff at Chez Bazan – these are custom made and can be as simple or exotic as you want them to be.

The Café is open for lunch between 11am and 2pm and for just drinks until 5pm – in fact drinks are $1 off the usual price after 3 pm. Specialty coffees and teas and fruit smoothies are available plus salads, soup and sandwiches. The sandwiches are slightly exotic and include smoked turkey and avocado or Jamaican chicken. There is also quiche and wonderful Chicken Florentine crepes, served with salad. Lunch will set you back around $10.

Chez Bazan is a rare find in Tyler – a unique place to eat with gourmet food. As I have already mentioned though, the experience does come at a cost. I hope that it is popular enough to remain in business and prosper as it would if it was located in Dallas.